The next big business trend that we are going to see, and that is happening already, is not only that aboriginal businesses are going to be stronger components of the corporate supply chain, but we are also going to see them as stronger proponents of equity positions and actual partners within resource projects.

JP Gladu of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business discusses native participation in resource industries...Read More

Posts tagged ‘Malagasy Minerals Ltd’

Natural graphite prices have fallen for the first time since March 2009, according to a May 23 Industrial Minerals article by Simon Moores. Large-flake graphite of +80 mesh grading 94% to 97% carbon fluctuated between $2,500 and $2,700 a tonne during 18 months of strong demand. Now prices have fallen as much as 12%, to between $2,200 to $2,700 per tonne. The smaller flake of -100 mesh, grading 94% to 97% C, fell by $100 to the $1,900-to-$2,300 range.

Slowing economies in China and Europe caused the decline, observers say. Moores reports that traders in the European market point to an industrial slowdown in the continent’s biggest consumer, Germany. Graphite demand is closely tied to the steel industry, which suffers from economic uncertainty, particularly in Eurozone countries, he writes.

Nevertheless a past-producing German graphite mine will reopen on June 21, according to a May 24 Industrial Minerals article by Jessica Roberts. Graphit Kropfmühl projects eventual production of 5,000 tonnes a year at its Kropfmühl Mine.

Effective May 25 Focus Metals Inc began trading as Focus Graphite Inc TSXV:FMS. The stock symbol remains the same. The new name was approved by shareholders on May 3 and formally announced May 24. The company describes its flagship Lac Knife Property in northeast Quebec as the world’s highest-grade technology graphite resource.

Lac Knife’s PEA is scheduled for release June 7. In cooperation with L’institut de recherche d’Hydro-Québec, Focus plans to open a production facility for battery-grade spherical graphite by the end of 2013, producing about 10,000 tonnes of 95% material for the first 12 months. The goal for 2015 is 15,000 tonnes. Focus also holds a 40% interest in Grafoid Inc, a JV created to find proprietary methods of manufacturing graphene using unprocessed graphite ore from Lac Knife.

Individual samples assayed as high as 13.1%. Results are pending for another hole collared at the same location but drilled in the opposite direction. The collar is 450 metres from the project’s original discovery hole, which intersected eight separate and extensive breccia zones. Albany is 30 kilometres from the Trans-Canada Highway, a powerline and natural gas pipeline, 70 kilometres from rail and about five kilometres from an all-weather road.

Following airborne surveys, ground geophysics, mapping, trenching and 29 drill holes on a number of potential graphite deposits, Energizer chose the JV Property’s Molo Deposit for a graphite-resource estimate and to begin open-pit mine construction with production targeted for 2014 or 2015. The company’s evaluation includes metallurgical analysis, which confirms that jumbo-flake (+50 mesh) graphite at an average purity of 93% C can be liberated through simple crushing of graphite.

Energizer also announced the appointment of Albert A Thiess Jr as Director and Chair of Capital Projects and Mine Development Committee. Thiess brings over 35 years of accounting, finance and management experience to the company. Also appointed to the committee is Peter D. Liabotis, a chartered accountant with over 15 years experience.

Read an interview with Energizer Resources VP Business Development Brent Nykoliation.

Uragold Bay Resources Inc TSXV:UBR announced May 24 that its directors propose to consolidate issued and outstanding common shares. Under the resolution, every four existing common shares would be consolidated into one new common share. The resolution will be submitted to shareholders at the June 19 AGM and is subject to TSXV approval. The resolution would allow, but not compel, the board to consolidate stock up to nine months after shareholder approval. The board’s decision will be based on market conditions. The company stated that consolidation would enhance the its liquidity, share marketability and shareholder profitability.

Uragold holds gold properties in south Quebec’s Appalachian belt and the Asbury Graphite Property in southwest Quebec. The properties have extensive historic exploration and well-established infrastructure. Uragold‘s business model focuses on developing a series of potential small-scale low-cost mining operations for potential cashflow while exploring other properties.

Graphite One drops Alaska Gold Project, begins Graphite Exploration

Graphite One Resources Inc TSXV:GPH announced May 24 it has relinquished its option on the Kelly Creek Gold Property in Alaska. The company will instead focus on its 3,108-hectare Graphite Creek Property, 65 kilometres north of Nome on Alaska’s Seward Peninsula.

The company has begun a helicopter-borne TDEM survey comprising both magnetics and electromagnetics of approximately 690 line-kilometres flown at 50-metre-spaced lines. The $4.5-million program will consist of prospecting, geological mapping, sampling and drilling along conductors delineated from the survey and previously defined graphite-bearing schist. The goal is to move the project towards a resource estimate. Graphite Creek is three kilometres from intertidal waters at Windy Cove, approximately 20 kilometres from roads and three kilometres from an airstrip.

The Kringel Mine operated from 1996 to 2001, when production stopped due to falling graphite prices. The project has been on care and maintenance since. The Kringel Graphite Project has an historic, non-43-101 resource estimate of 6.9 million tonnes grading 8.8% in four separate deposits. The mine site has a non-43-101 estimate of 1.3 million tonnes grading 11.3%. Flinders intends to bring historic resource estimates into 43-101 compliance and test for extensions of the deposit below 50 metres and along strike. The resource estimates are scheduled for completion around the end of July.

Bolero Resources Corp TSXV:BRU announced May 23 the appointment of Paul Ogilvie as CEO. R. Bruce Duncan has resigned as President/CEO and has been appointed Executive Chairman. Ogilvie has been granted one million options at $0.20 per share, which are subject to vesting over a six-month period and exercisable for five years. In 2007, he led a private investment group in the redevelopment of Industrial Minerals Inc, now known as Northern Graphite Corp TSXV:NGC. Starting in 2009, Ogilvie served as CEO/Director/Founder of MEGA Graphite Inc. The company also announced its intention to change its name to Canada Carbon Inc. (Update: On October 5, 2012, Bolero Resources Corp began trading as Canada Carbon Inc TSXV:CCB.)

Bolero‘s Maria Graphite Claims cover approximately 2,000 hectares in east Ontario, 17 kilometres from the Trans-Canada Highway and completely surrounding Northern Graphite‘s Bissett Creek Deposit. The company plans to begin work shortly.

Lomiko announces Drill Program, Resource Estimate Target Date

Lomiko Metals Inc TSXV:LMR announced May 22 a drill program of up to 70 holes on its Quatre Milles Graphite Property in south Quebec. Drilling will focus on verifying the areas of historic, non-43-101 high-grade results reported by Graphicor Resources. Lomiko plans to complete Phase I and II, followed by a flake-graphite resource estimate, by December.

The company’s 1,600-hectare Quatre Milles Property and 2,180-hectare Quatre Milles West Property are approximately one hour’s drive from the mining centre of Val-d’Or and 26 kilometres by paved road from the Trans-Canada Highway. Lomiko also has a zinc discovery on its 5,407-hectare Vines Lake Property in the Cassiar Gold Camp in the Liard Mining District of northwest BC. Further exploration is planned for this summer. The property has year-round paved road access via Highway 37N.

Berkwood Resources Ltd TSXV:BKR announced May 22 an option to earn a 100% interest in the Lac Gueret East Graphite Property in north-central Quebec. Under the agreement, Berkwood pays three prospectors a total of $25,000 on signing, $35,000 and 750,000 units (consisting of one share and one warrant exercisable for 24 months at $0.15) within seven days of TSXV approval, $75,000 and 500,000 shares six months after TSXV approval, $75,000 and 375,000 shares 12 months after TSXV approval and $75,000 and 375,000 shares 18 months after TSXV approval. The vendors share a 2% NSR, half of which Berkwood may buy for $1,000,000.

The 3,186-hectare property borders the eastern boundary of Mason Graphite’s Lac Gueret Property, about three hours by road from the deep-sea port of Baie-Comeau. Graphite in the area is present in marbles and in contact with or within paragneisses and ranges from 3% to 40% carbon, with flakes up to 5 mm in diameter, Berkwood stated. The company’s program includes compilation of historic work, an airborne electromagnetic survey, surface follow-up, stripping, trenching and drilling.

Disclaimer: Focus Graphite Inc and Lomiko Metals Inc are clients of OnPage Media, and the principals of OnPage Media may hold shares in those companies.